Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 83036 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83036
- Insurance Median: $75
- Cash Discount Price: $75
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.72x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $9.71 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 772% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 672%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $68 - $75 | 700% |
| Aetna | $68 - $71 | 700% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $75 - $82 | 772% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $75 | 772% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $75 | 772% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $112 | 1153% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood sugar test (A1c) at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash price is $75.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate and the median amount paid by UnitedHealthcare and Aetna plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a government hospital district, the cash price is notably higher than the state average for this service, which is $68.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $75.00 cash price directly more affordable than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for UnitedHealthcare and Aetna range from $68.00 to $75.00, meaning the patient could still face significant out-of-pocket costs if their deductible is not met. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as commercial rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures.
To avoid unexpected costs, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. If you are billed for a difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance payment, known as balance billing, remember that the No Surprises Act generally protects you from these surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Furthermore, if you receive a summary bill, request a full itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected. Comparing your facility's rates to the Medicare benchmark of $9.